The Lord of Spirits

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The modern world does not acknowledge but is nevertheless haunted by spirits - angels, demons and saints. Fathers Andrew Stephen Damick and Stephen De Young focus on enchantment in creation, the union of the seen and unseen as made by God and experienced by mankind throughout history.

Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Fr. Stephen De Young, and Ancient Faith Ministries


    • Dec 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 2h 32m AVG DURATION
    • 441 EPISODES

    4.9 from 1,194 ratings Listeners of The Lord of Spirits that love the show mention: damick, deyoung, kevin zalac, heiser, protestants, stephen's, archaeology, orthodox, fr, priests, old testament, ignored, fathers, dad jokes, worth every minute, fyi, scriptures, ancient, spiritually, traditional.


    Ivy Insights

    The Lord of Spirits podcast is a remarkable Christian podcast that offers a fresh perspective on the Bible and helps listeners gain a deeper understanding of its teachings. As a German Catholic and historical religious sociologist, I can confidently say that this podcast stands out as one of the best resources for Christians seeking to delve into the depths of scripture.

    One of the greatest aspects of The Lord of Spirits podcast is how it introduces listeners to a whole new world that aids in comprehending the Bible. By exploring premodern categories and systems of thought, hosts Fathers Andrew and Stephen critique the pitfalls of evangelicalism's capitulation to post-Enlightenment philosophy. They offer an alternative to the dichotomy between arid evangelical intellectualism and vapid charismatic fanaticism, providing valuable insights that challenge traditional interpretations.

    The podcast strikes an excellent balance between being informative and accessible. It delves into biblical and patristic thought with deep scholarship, shedding light on ancient Near East culture, languages, Second Temple Judaism, symbolism, archaeology, and more. While sometimes light-hearted in their banter, Fathers Andrew and Stephen always offer thoughtful analysis and pastoral guidance in their summations at the end of each episode. This combination makes for an enjoyable learning experience.

    On the downside, some may find themselves frustrated by occasional tangents or lengthy build-ups before getting into the main topic. These distractions can detract from the otherwise compelling content discussed throughout each episode. However, considering how much one can learn from this podcast about spiritual warfare, theology in the unseen realm, human psychology through scripture, and forgotten or ignored aspects of church history and tradition, these minor drawbacks are worth enduring.

    In conclusion, The Lord of Spirits podcast is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the Bible within its historical context. Whether you are Protestant or Catholic like myself, this podcast offers profound insights that transcend denominational boundaries. With its blend of deep knowledge combined with love for ancient scriptures, this podcast truly showcases the best of Orthodox tradition. I highly recommend it to all Christians seeking a richer exploration of their faith.



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    Latest episodes from The Lord of Spirits

    Magical Mystery Tour

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025


    Christianity has been called a “mystery” religion. There are some who say that it is simply one of many mystery cults that existed in the ancient Greco-Roman world, such as the Eleusinian, Dionysian, Orphic or Samothracian mysteries. So what were their mysteries really like?

    Magical Mystery Tour

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025


    Christianity has been called a “mystery” religion. There are some who say that it is simply one of many mystery cults that existed in the ancient Greco-Roman world, such as the Eleusinian, Dionysian, Orphic or Samothracian mysteries. So what were their mysteries really like?

    No, Virginia, Christmas Isn't About Mithras

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2025


    In 1954, deep under the streets of London, a mysterious 3rd c. temple was unearthed, but it was not as hoped a Christian church. It was a Mithraeum, a place of bloody secret rituals practiced by Roman soldiers. Who is their god Mithras? And is he the real Jesus?

    No, Virginia, Christmas Isn't About Mithras

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2025


    In 1954, deep under the streets of London, a mysterious 3rd c. temple was unearthed, but it was not as hoped a Christian church. It was a Mithraeum, a place of bloody secret rituals practiced by Roman soldiers. Who is their god Mithras? And is he the real Jesus?

    Pananthropon & Pandemonium II: Live, In-Person Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2025


    In this live-recorded, in-person Q&A session, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew respond to questions and comments from the attendees at the Lord of Spirits Conference, hosted Oct. 2-5 at the Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.

    Pananthropon & Pandemonium II: Live, In-Person Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2025


    In this live-recorded, in-person Q&A session, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew respond to questions and comments from the attendees at the Lord of Spirits Conference, hosted Oct. 2-5 at the Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.

    The Other Messiah in the Bible

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2025


    Some say that the Persians had their own Messiah, and some even say that this is where Israel got the idea. Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, once ruled much of the ancient world. But was he God's anointed?

    The Other Messiah in the Bible

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2025


    Some say that the Persians had their own Messiah, and some even say that this is where Israel got the idea. Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, once ruled much of the ancient world. But was he God's anointed?

    Ye Wrote an Opera?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2025


    Nebuchadnezzar II, king of the Neo-Babylonian empire, most powerful man in the world, was brought low by divine madness. Who was this king who lived in the shadow of Etemenanki, whose visions were revealed by a prophet, and whose apex in pop culture is as a wealthy zucchini?

    opera neo babylonian
    Ye Wrote an Opera?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2025


    Nebuchadnezzar II, king of the Neo-Babylonian empire, most powerful man in the world, was brought low by divine madness. Who was this king who lived in the shadow of Etemenanki, whose visions were revealed by a prophet, and whose apex in pop culture is as a wealthy zucchini?

    opera neo babylonian
    Soon the Water Will Come

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2025


    The ancients told tales of the inundation of the world with water -- the Great Flood. How do these stories compare with the story told in Genesis, and what does this event mean for the Christian?

    Soon the Water Will Come

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2025


    The ancients told tales of the inundation of the world with water -- the Great Flood. How do these stories compare with the story told in Genesis, and what does this event mean for the Christian?

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XVIII Live Q&A August 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2025


    It's time to call in with all your weirdest, nuttiest, and most mind-bending questions, from giants to the gyrations of James T. Kirk.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XVIII Live Q&A August 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2025


    It's time to call in with all your weirdest, nuttiest, and most mind-bending questions, from giants to the gyrations of James T. Kirk.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XVII Asynchronous Q&A August 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025


    The audio mailbag is starting to fill up again, so it's time to take out the garbage. Wait, that didn't come out right.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XVII Asynchronous Q&A August 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025


    The audio mailbag is starting to fill up again, so it's time to take out the garbage. Wait, that didn't come out right.

    Storytime with Fr. Stephen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2025


    Fr. Stephen reads tales from the ancient world calculated to drive you mad.

    Storytime with Fr. Stephen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2025


    Fr. Stephen reads tales from the ancient world calculated to drive you mad.

    Apostolic Succession

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2025


    The Apostles are given authority by Christ to preach, to bind and loose, to exorcise, to baptize, and so on. Did that authority die with them? What is the nature of the authority of a bishop?

    Apostolic Succession

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2025


    The Apostles are given authority by Christ to preach, to bind and loose, to exorcise, to baptize, and so on. Did that authority die with them? What is the nature of the authority of a bishop?

    Mosaic Succession

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2025


    Christ said that the scribes and Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses (Matthew 23:2). Is this a metaphor or a defined position of authority? Did Moses pass on his authority in succession, and is it the same as his own?

    Mosaic Succession

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2025


    Christ said that the scribes and Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses (Matthew 23:2). Is this a metaphor or a defined position of authority? Did Moses pass on his authority in succession, and is it the same as his own?

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XVI: Asynchronous Q&A June 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025


    The Podfathers open their audio mailbag and turn it upside down to see what shakes out: How many will be saved? What's the deal with saints associated with certain themes? Is dancing wrong? And lots more!

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XVI: Asynchronous Q&A June 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025


    The Podfathers open their audio mailbag and turn it upside down to see what shakes out: How many will be saved? What's the deal with saints associated with certain themes? Is dancing wrong? And lots more!

    Hasmonean? Nah, I'm Broke

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025


    Were there really 400 silent years between Malachi and Matthew? Is there a sudden disjunction starting with the New Testament? In this final episode of the History of Israel series, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew look at the Second Temple Jewish period.

    Hasmonean? Nah, I'm Broke

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025


    Were there really 400 silent years between Malachi and Matthew? Is there a sudden disjunction starting with the New Testament? In this final episode of the History of Israel series, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew look at the Second Temple Jewish period.

    Kingdoms of Israel: Reckoning

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025


    Continuing their series on the Biblical history of Israel, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew chart the progress from after the Exodus up to the Second Temple Period. (Get excited about giants.)

    Kingdoms of Israel: Reckoning

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025


    Continuing their series on the Biblical history of Israel, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew chart the progress from after the Exodus up to the Second Temple Period. (Get excited about giants.)

    I Will Make a Distinction

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025


    In this first episode concerning the story of Israel, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew take us from Abraham to the Exodus.

    I Will Make a Distinction

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025


    In this first episode concerning the story of Israel, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew take us from Abraham to the Exodus.

    Every Stick of Wood in the Old Testament

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025


    Is the Cross just what the Romans happened to use to kill Jesus? Or is there something deeper and older that culminates in the crucifixion of Christ? Join Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew for a thorough look at the Cross in the Old Testament.

    Every Stick of Wood in the Old Testament

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025


    Is the Cross just what the Romans happened to use to kill Jesus? Or is there something deeper and older that culminates in the crucifixion of Christ? Join Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew for a thorough look at the Cross in the Old Testament.

    Apocalypse of Abraham and Atonement Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025


    Ever read the Bogomil Bible? If not, you might still be interested in the place of Azazel in apocrypha. Continuing their series on Second Temple Jewish texts, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew read the Apocalypse of Abraham.

    Apocalypse of Abraham and Atonement Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025


    Ever read the Bogomil Bible? If not, you might still be interested in the place of Azazel in apocrypha. Continuing their series on Second Temple Jewish texts, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew read the Apocalypse of Abraham.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XV: Live Q&A March 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025


    It's another no-holds-barred live Q&A with the Podfathers! Got a dragon on your mind, a giant in your closet, or a screech owl in your filing cabinet? This is your moment, scorpion-stompers! Give us a call.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XV: Live Q&A March 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025


    It's another no-holds-barred live Q&A with the Podfathers! Got a dragon on your mind, a giant in your closet, or a screech owl in your filing cabinet? This is your moment, scorpion-stompers! Give us a call.

    Your Skin Makes Me Cry

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025


    Angels are active in the world. What does that activity actually look like? Is it just “benevolent haunting”? What about guardian angels? Join Fr. Andrew and Fr. Stephen as they also look at what all this means for human destiny.

    Your Skin Makes Me Cry

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025


    Angels are active in the world. What does that activity actually look like? Is it just “benevolent haunting”? What about guardian angels? Join Fr. Andrew and Fr. Stephen as they also look at what all this means for human destiny.

    Who is Your Demon and What Does He Do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025


    Is your house haunted? Do demons still possess people? Can we see the activity of demons in the modern world? How would we recognize it? Join Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew as they uncover the darkest of all conspiracies.

    Who is Your Demon and What Does He Do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025


    Is your house haunted? Do demons still possess people? Can we see the activity of demons in the modern world? How would we recognize it? Join Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew as they uncover the darkest of all conspiracies.

    Purifications of the Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025


    What exactly is ritual impurity? Does it equal sinfulness? How do bodily functions figure in? Did the New Testament abolish the ritual impurity traditions of the Old Testament? And does it have any meaning today?

    Purifications of the Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025


    What exactly is ritual impurity? Does it equal sinfulness? How do bodily functions figure in? Did the New Testament abolish the ritual impurity traditions of the Old Testament? And does it have any meaning today?

    Is Progress Even a Thing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025


    It's another metaphysical head-scratcher! Following up on some episodes from 2024, the podcast looks at what change actually means (if anything?) and what bearing that has on teleology.

    Is Progress Even a Thing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025


    It's another metaphysical head-scratcher! Following up on some episodes from 2024, the podcast looks at what change actually means (if anything?) and what bearing that has on teleology.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XIV: Asynchronous Q&A Dec 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024


    The Podfathers clear out the voicemail backlogs with this pre-recorded end-of-year episode, covering everything from whether Eglon was fat or handsome to if the Orthodox believe in a kind of Calvinism to the unsettling logismoi of Wham! at Christmastime.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XIV: Asynchronous Q&A Dec 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024


    The Podfathers clear out the voicemail backlogs with this pre-recorded end-of-year episode, covering everything from whether Eglon was fat or handsome to if the Orthodox believe in a kind of Calvinism to the unsettling logismoi of Wham! at Christmastime.

    When God Became Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024


    At the heart of Christian faith and life is the incarnation of the Son of God. When does that happen, exactly? It seems easy enough to answer, but a close look at Scripture yields a more complex picture.

    When God Became Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024


    At the heart of Christian faith and life is the incarnation of the Son of God. When does that happen, exactly? It seems easy enough to answer, but a close look at Scripture yields a more complex picture.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XIII: Asynchronous Q&A Nov 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2024


    In this pre-recorded episode, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew respond to your voicemail, ranging from whether Jesus could get a speeding ticket to why some canonical texts don't actually get read in church. And Fr. Andrew tries to nail down Fr. Stephen's notorious Nietzsche talk.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XIII: Asynchronous Q&A Nov 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2024


    In this pre-recorded episode, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew respond to your voicemail, ranging from whether Jesus could get a speeding ticket to why some canonical texts don't actually get read in church. And Fr. Andrew tries to nail down Fr. Stephen's notorious Nietzsche talk.

    Israel, I Choose You!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024


    It's Election Day on Lord of Spirits! Who is elected? What are they elected to? How is Israel involved in all this?

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